Padden Wins Prize from Vintage Grocers

Padden Wins Tree-Lighting Contest

John Padden astutely guessed with the “Charlie Brown” tree on the Village Green would be lit. The lights were turned on at 5:27 p.m. Saturday, November 24. Padden, the current Palisades PRIDE president, had guessed that date and 5:12 p.m. He was the only contestant to guess November 24.

Padden won a gift basket, donated by Vintage Grocers, that included wine, cheese and lots of other goodies.

One of the Village Green board members was queried about how the date and time was kept under wraps. Although the board knew the day, Marge Gold wrote, “To keep it fair, the person who turned them [lights] on was instructed to flip the switch at any time he chose and to text us after he did. It was rather exciting for us to wait for the text.”

Station 69 firefighters, using their hook-and-ladder truck, helped hang the lights from the venerable tree on November 7.

In past years, the lights were turned on at the start of the Chamber’s Holiday Ho!Ho!Ho! event, when Santa and Mrs. Claus came past the Green atop the fire truck. Ho!Ho!Ho! was discontinued this year after 60 years.

The Village Green Board inaugurated the lighting contest to draw attention to the tree, which was planted in 1973, the same year the park was dedicated. The small triangular piece of property, bounded by Sunset Boulevard, Antioch Street and Swarthmore Avenue, was transformed from a gas station to a private pocket park. (Funds to purchase the property and build the Green came from residents.)